Iran: Arms Embargo

Lord Burlison: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any goods subject to national arms embargo have recently been approved for export to Iran.

Baroness Amos: The Government have recently issued a licence for the export of goods to be used as part of the process of drilling oil and gas wells. These goods include HMX pellets which could be suitable for use in anti-personnel landmines. However, the Government are satisfied that these HMX pellets, specifically designed for cutting collars and perforating tubes, are intended only for the legitimate end-use stated. The risk of these goods being diverted for use by the Iranian military is minimal.

National Criminal Intelligence Service

Baroness Gould of Potternewton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who will succeed the current director general of the National Criminal Intelligence Service.

Lord Filkin: My right honourable friend the Home Secretary is pleased to announce the appointment of Peter Hampson, currently Chief Constable of West Mercia Constabulary, as director general of the National Criminal Intelligence Service.
	Peter Hampson will take over from the current director general, John Abbott, who retires on 21 March this year.

Exmoor: Deer Conservation

Lord Mancroft: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What direct consultations they have held with farmers and land managers on Exmoor about the implications of a ban on deer hunting for the future of the deer herds.

Lord Whitty: We are aware of local concerns about the implications for the Exmoor deer herds of any ban on hunting deer with dogs. My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) has engaged in direct consultation with a number of representatives of relevant organisations during visits to Exmoor and at meetings held in London. A further meeting is to be arranged soon.

Exmoor: Deer Conservation

Lord Rea: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have held any discussions with individuals or organisations about an alternative deer management scheme on Exmoor in light of the proposed ban on deer hunting.

Lord Whitty: My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) is engaging in discussions with representatives of the organisations concerned about the future of deer management on Exmoor in the event of a ban on hunting. Meetings have taken place during visits to Exmoor and in London, and a further meeting is to be arranged soon. The Government's view is that appropriate control of deer populations can best be considered through local deer management groups. These groups operate both in areas where there is deer hunting and in other areas where there are healthy wild deer herds. Advice on setting up deer management groups is provided by the Deer Initiative, a partnership sponsored by the Forestry Commission. Partners in the initiative include Defra and English Nature, as well as forestry and agricultural interests.

DfES: Staffing

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many men and how many women are employed in the Department for Education and Skills.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The department employs 1,914 men and 2,638 women, a total of 4,552 staff. This figure covers staff employed in the following locations: London, Sheffield, Runcorn and Darlington. This also includes 120 staff in the Schools Directorate working on Sure Start and the Children and Young People's Unit who are based in government offices.

NHS Foundation Trusts

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they propose that the Secretary of State for Health will have a power of direction over the Independent Regulator for National Health Service Foundation Trusts.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: No. The Secretary of State for Health will not have a power of direction over the Independent Regulator for NHS Foundation Trusts.

NHS Foundation Trusts

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have consulted the Office of National Statistics about the classification of National Health Service foundation trusts in the national accounts; and, if so, what advice they have received.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: No. We have not consulted the Office for National Statistics about the classification of NHS foundation trusts in the national accounts.

NHS Foundation Trusts

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the amounts due under private finance initiative contracts will be treated as borrowing for the purpose of the borrowing limits to be set for National Health Service foundation trusts.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: No. The contract with a private finance initiative project company is for a service and as such does not constitute borrowing.

NHS Foundation Trusts

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who will carry out the independent financial review of National Health Service foundation trust applicants referred to in paragraph 7.9 of A Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We will shortly be tendering for the contract to carry out the independent financial review.

NHS Foundation Trusts

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What level of financial support will be given to National Health Service foundation trust applicants during the second-stage application process referred to in paragraph 7.13 of A Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We will discuss the level of support with the shortlisted applicants. It will be tailored to their needs.

NHS Foundation Trusts

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether financial support will be given to National Health Service foundation trust applicants prior to the passing of legislation allowing the creation of National Health Service foundation trusts.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Yes. Financial support will be given to NHS foundation trust applicants prior to the passing of legislation.

NHS Foundation Trusts

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether National Health Service foundation trusts will be obliged to comply with all national standards and service priorities set for the National Health Service generally.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Yes. The position is set out in paragraph 3.20 of A Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts.

NHS Foundation Trusts

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What will be the relationship between strategic health authorities and National Health Service foundation trusts.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: NHS foundation trusts will not be subject to performance management by strategic health authorities but will be expected to co-operate with them under their duty of partnership (see paragraph 3.21 of A Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts).

NHS Foundation Trusts

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether National Health Service foundation trusts will have to provide the same data for central purposes as National Health Service trusts; and, if not, what will be the differences.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The position is set out in paragraph 3.23 of A Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts.

NHS Foundation Trusts

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it is intended that National Health Service foundation trusts will be able to use the proceeds from disposal of non-regulated assets to acquire further non-regulated assets.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The position is set out in paragraph 5.24 of A Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts. Details will be included in forthcoming legislation.

NHS Foundation Trusts

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who will determine whether proceeds of non-regulated assets are used to further a National Health Service foundation trust's public interest objectives as referred to in paragraph 3.19 of A Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts; and what activities will be regarded as within that concept.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: It will be for the independent regulator to determine whether there is any breach of the requirement in paragraph 3.19 in line with provisions to be set out in forthcoming legislation.

NHS Foundation Trusts

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the board of governors of a National Health Service foundation trust will be free to appoint an auditor other than the Audit Commission or the National Audit Office.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Provisions will be set out in forthcoming legislation.

NHS Foundation Trusts

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the chair and members of the board of governors of a National Health Service foundation trust will be remunerated.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The position is set out in paragraph 2.24 of A Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts. Details will be set out in forthcoming legislation.

NHS Foundation Trusts

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the chair and non-executive directors of a management board of a National Health Service foundation trust will be remunerated.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: NHS foundation trusts will be free to decide on their constitutional arrangements, including the remuneration of the chair and non-executive directors on the management board, subject to requirements to be set out in forthcoming legislation.

NHS Foundation Trusts

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What ownership rights will be conferred on members of a National Health Service foundation trust.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The position is set out in paragraphs 2.11 to 2.15 of A Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts. Details will be included in forthcoming legislation.

Northern Ireland Implementation Bodies: Pension Provision

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	At what meetings of the North/South Ministerial Council discussions took place about the failure to make pension provision for chief executives of implementation bodies over the last three years; and what course of action was decided upon.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Pension provision for chief executives of implementation bodies was discussed at North/South Ministerial Council meetings on 26 September 2000 and 17 December 2001.
	I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given on 9 December 2002 (WA 2), which outlined steps being taken (in accordance with decisions taken by NSMC at those meetings) to make the necessary pension provision for all staff working in implementation bodies. When the arrangements for a pension scheme are finalised the scheme will require approval from the two finance Ministers and the NSMC.

Teaching Qualifications

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Following the Belfast Agreement of 1998 which promised parity of esteem to all on the island of Ireland, whether teacher training qualifications from Northern Ireland are recognised in the Republic of Ireland; if not, why; and what steps are being taken to rectify the position.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Registration Council in the Republic of Ireland (RoI) recognises a number of the qualifications awarded by third-level institutions from here as fulfilling its teacher training requirement but in some cases there are additional requirements to be satisfied.
	A Joint Teacher Qualifications Working Group, established under the Belfast Agreement, is examining the issue of teacher qualification, including the issue of additional requirements, in the context of teacher mobility. The issue will also be considered by the General Teaching Councils for Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, together with representatives of the Republic of Ireland (which is still in the process of establishing its general teaching council).

Northern Ireland Ambulance Service

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 16 December (WA 80) concerning the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, whether a press release from the Executive Information Service of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety of 3 July which refers to spending in the current year and in 2003–04 indicated that £16.2 million was being made available to the service; whether it will outline how the full £16.2 million will be spent on the service during the period; and whether the press release was correct.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The £16.2 million announced in the press release refers to a package of planned measures for improvements in the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, including £10.3 million for new ambulances, £4.3 million for improvements to ambulance stations and £1.6 million for the enhancement of the service's communications and control system: £4 million was allocated initially to take forward this package in 2002–03 and 2003–04.
	It is anticipated that the balance of resources will be made available to the ambulance service from 2004–05 onwards through the re-investment and reform initiative.

Northern Ireland Ambulance Service

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 16 December (WA 80), whether they will now consider methods of accrediting private ambulances in order to ensure a quality of service in which members of the public will not be placed at unnecessary risk.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: No. Responsibility for ensuring that the non-emergency services provided by the private sector meet the standards which they require lies with those organisations which use them.

Northern Ireland: National Museums and Galleries

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What district councils and other organisations have been consulted about the corporate plan for the National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland; and when the process of consultation will be completed.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: In May 2000 the National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland (MAGNI) launched a vision document entitled Opening Horizons, which set how the organisation proposed to develop over a 10 to 15-year period. This was circulated for comment to all district councils, together with education and library boards and members of the Northern Ireland Assembly's Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee. Opening Horizons is regarded as a working document, and consultations are ongoing as its themes are refined and developed.
	A review of MAGNI is currently being conducted, and it is expected that this will produce a corporate plan that will also be the subject of consultation.

Northern Ireland Office: Parliamentary Questions

Lord Jopling: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether he will instruct officials in the Cabinet Office to conduct an inquiry into the failure of the Northern Ireland Office to answer 29 Questions on the House of Lords Order Paper which have been unanswered for more than four weeks, when the official target for replies is within two weeks; and whether he will publish in the Official Report the reasons why the Questions which have been on the Order Paper for more than six weeks have not been answered.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: I am pleased to inform the noble Lord that all 29 outstanding Questions have now been answered.
	The suspension of devolved government in the Northern Ireland Assembly and transfer of powers to Westminster has added a considerable burden of work to the Northern Ireland Office.
	I would like to assure the noble Lord that the Northern Ireland Office recognises the importance of prompt Answers and is taking steps to ensure that all Parliamentary Questions are answered accurately and promptly.